David Saftner is an associate professor at the University of Minnesota Duluth’s Swenson College of Science and Engineering. His areas of research include the beneficial reuse of waste soil material, geotechnical site investigation and characterization, and teaching and learning in engineering education. He teaches courses in geotechnical engineering and has earned several teaching and advising awards. Saftner is actively involved in several professional organizations and currently serves as an officer in committees for American Society of Civil Engineers and American Society for Engineering Education.
Prior to pursuing a career in academics, Saftner spent five years as an engineer officer in the US Army serving in several states, Kuwait, and Iraq. He earned a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from the United States Military Academy and a master’s degree and PhD in civil engineering from the University of Michigan.